Walker Magazine: Meet Local Jewelry Designer Yen Chee

I am honored to have been the featured artist in the 2022 January/February Walker Art Center Magazine.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT FASHION?

I feel as though fashion is often an underrated art form. It is celebrated but often fleeting. Fashion is a way for people to communicate to the world who they are. I love when clients tell me they wear my jewelry as part of their everyday wardrobe to express themselves. It's a great honor to design something that makes someone feel confident and beautiful.

WERE YOU ALWAYS AN ENTREPRENEUR?

Prior to starting my own business, I worked at various architecture firms as an interior designer. However, entrepreneurship does run in my family, as my grandfather was a prominent businessman in Malaysia. My father is a renowned watercolor artist in Duluth, and my mom runs the business side of things, so growing up I'd help with marketing and fulfilling orders. In retrospect, that's probably why owning my own business has always felt very natural to me.

AS AN ARTIST AND DESIGNER, WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THE TWIN CITIES CREATIVE SCENE?

I love how the local design community is small enough that you realize how tightly woven people are. The Walker is essentially where my jewelry career began and connected me with an amazing group of fellow makers. My first launch to the public over a decade ago was at one of the Walker's Jewelry and Accessory Makers Marts. I will always be grateful for the support I've had all these years.

No matter what artistic avenue you're interested in, there's a group for it here in the Twin Cities. It's nice to feel that sense of comradery That's one of the reasons why my husband and I decided to move into our new studio in Minneapolis during the pandemic. We have a huge variety of neighbors who specialize in everything from pottery to natural soap making, weaving, photography, vintage clothing, painting. plants, and floral arts--all under one roof. We love inviting people into our space to see where and how we create. Eventually, we'd like to host more events and gatherings. The human connections are simply irreplaceable.